Harsh cut might help spur growth

COMMENTARY - PLANT DOCTOR

Question: I divided some older liriope clumps with 2-foot-long leaves. A neighbor said I could trim them back to about 8 inches to produce a neater-looking ground cover. Would this hurt the plants?

Answer: Removing a considerable amount of foliage is never a good way to encourage plant growth, but for the sake of beauty this is one time you can make an exception. A hard trimming should give the plants a fresh start with plenty of room for new foliage. Just keep the soil moist by watering when the upper inch becomes dry to the touch and apply a light feeding every 6 to 8 weeks until the plants are back to normal.

The trouble with tulips

Q: We recently planted some tulips. How well do you think they will do?

A: Tulips need lots of cold weather to mature their flower buds; that is why they are planted in the northern states. Regretfully, even the recent freezing weather experienced locally was probably not enough to meet their requirements. Normally, the bulbs are placed the refrigerator for 12 weeks to receive the needed cold prior to planting. Without this treatment, you are likely to get lots of foliage but few flowers.

Pollen problem

Q: In the past, some of my cucumbers and summer squash fruits have not fully developed or have been deformed. What is the cause, and what can I do?

A: A lack of pollinators causes the squash and cucumbers to take on these odd shapes. The fruits are still edible but not the good-looking produce you expect. Some cucumber varieties do not need pollination by insects, but all squash do. So you may have to come up with a plan to help with the pollination process.

First, make sure your plantings are in the full sun where the insects can find them. Honey bees have been major pollinators in the past, but the populations are dwindling so you have to depend on other bees and insects. Try planting flowering plants among the vegetables that attract insects of all types. Many herbs and garden flowers seem to bring in these pollinators. If this fails to get the bee's work done, try moving the pollen between flowers yourself with a small paintbrush.

A sand plan?

Q: A while back, I noticed my neighbor spreading sand on his lawn. What does this accomplish?

A: Sanding lawns is usually a last-ditch effort to save the turf. Normally, the need for sand indicates the lawn has become lush and spongy after too much water and fertilizer cause excessive growth. Often these lawns present a challenge to pushing a mower through the grass. Sanding is also used to establish a new layer for root growth in nematode-infested lawns.

Adding up to one inch of sand is usually a temporary fix for the nematode problem, but it can give a year or two of renewed growth. Sanding can help re-establish a firm new lawn when the turf has become spongy. In this later case, the watering and feeding programs should also be readjusted to reduce the vigorous growth.

Big bird of paradise

Q: I have a bird of paradise about 15 feet tall that is about to take over the yard. How can I reduce its size without killing the plant?

A: Dividing the plant and sharing some clumps with friends might be the best answer to your problem. This is no easy job because the roots and rhizomes are well-established in the ground and the clumps can be heavy. Use a sharp pointed nursery spade or saw to slice through the plant portions and form the clumps you would like to remove.

These plants are durable and, if kept moist, should make a quick transition to their new planting sites. If needed, you can also cut back taller trunks to allow new shoots to grow from the base.